SHAYMEN FRUSTRATE BLUEBIRDS YET AGAIN

JAMIE Fullarton reckons his FC Halifax Town side could have come away from Barrow with more than just a point in a rather forgettable encounter.

Just over a month after knocking the Bluebirds out of the FA Trophy, the Shaymen once again frustrated their hosts, who couldn’t muster a shot on target against their resolute defence.

They were also a threat on the counter-attack, with Scott Quigley and Matty Kosylo causing problems, but they just couldn’t quite find the finishing touch on a day Barrow’s performance fell flat.

“It was a very pleasing performance,” Fullarton said. “In the first half we were excellent, it was promising and we created a number of chances.

“Having just seen the offside goal, it suggests that it wasn’t offside and, coupled with three or four other opportunities that we had, on the performance and how the game panned out, you’re almost disappointed.

“To come to a place like Barrow, who have a fantastic home record – I think we were only team to beat them in a long period of time – and be in control of the majority of the game is great credit to the players.”

Halifax had the game’s first big chance after six minutes when Matty Brown nodded the ball into the path of Quigley, whose looping header was clawed away by Barrow keeper Joel Dixon.

The Shaymen thought they’d taken the lead when Matty Kosylo dinked over Dixon into the net, but he was judged offside. It looked a very tight call. Quigley then threatened again when he did very well to twist away from Matt Elsdon in the penalty area before shooting against the near post. After Quigley wasted another good chance, shooting straight at Dixon just before half-time, chances proved to be very scarce in what was a soporific second half. Barrow struggled to create opportunities throughout the match, with their best opportunity falling to Rhys Norrington-Davies, who blazed well over in the 73rd minute after the ball had ricocheted into his path. Barrow boss Ian Evatt said: “Especially in the first half, we were a couple of yards off the pace and we weren’t really ourselves. For whatever reason, we just looked a bit flat. “I thought we had a very good chance in the second half with Rhys, and we improved as the game went on. “I think in the last 15-20 minutes we got stronger and looked like we could create something, but it just wasn’t to be. “I must say, though, that the lads needed a lift and needed the crowd to really get behind us, and I just got the feeling that there was a lot of negativity.”

STAR MAN: Nathan Clarke (Halifax) ATT: 1,142 ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★ REFEREE: Declan Bourne 6/10